Storage tank and mixing machine



,1933. F. F. SCHWENTKER 1,933,346

STORAGE TANK AND MIXING MACHINE Filed July 20, 1932 Inventor Fred FSchwentkeT,

b His Attorne g,

Patented Oct. 31, 1933 FFIQE r STORAGE TANK AND MIXING MACHINE Fred F.Schwentker, Philadelphia, Pa, assignor to General Electric Company, acorporation of New York Ap lication July 20, 1932. Serial No. 623,551

'3 Claims.

The present invention relates to combined storage tanks and mixingmachines. It is especially well adapted for use as a storage tank andmixing machine for paint and in the following specification and inthedrawing, I have specifically described. and illustrated thisapplication of my invention. It is to be understood, however, that thisis only by way of example and that the invention is not limited theretonecessarily.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction andarrangement in a machine of this type which will effect rapid mixing andfrom which a well mixed portion will be drawn off when the mixedmaterial is to be used.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention,attention is directed to the following specification and the claimsappended thereto.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a storage tankand mixing machine embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a detail sectionalView through the discharge valve; Fig. 3 is a top plan View and Fig. 4is a sectional view of one of the impellers; Fig. 5 is a sectional viewtaken on the line 55, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates the side walls of the storage tankwhich may be rectangular in cross section, 2 indicates the top wall and3 indicates the bottom wall. The top wall 2 is provided with aiillingopening closed by a removable cover 4. The bottom wall 3 is dish Vshaped, providing a centrally located low portion 5 to which theadjacent slopingwalls direct the flow of paint or othermaterial to bemixed.

Located in the tank is an impeller tube or mixing tube 6 supported fromcover 2 by a plurality of straps 7. Straps 7 may be suitably Welded totube 6 and fastened to the cover by screws 8. Tube 6 is supported inspaced relation to central portion 5 so as to leave a space 9 at thebottom of tube 6 through which may terial may flow into the tube. Insidetube 6 is an impeller shaft 10 on which is mounted a plurality ofimpellers 11, two being shown in the present instance. One impeller islocated at the lower end of tube 6 and the other is located aboutcentrally thereof. On each side of impellers 11 are suitable bafilers 12which may be fastened to tube 6 by set screws such as are indicated at13. Each baiiler comprises an outer wall 14 connected by spokes 15 and acentral hub 16. The lower end of shaft 10 makes a nice fit with thelowermost hub 16 which forms a bearing for the lower end of the shaft.The

shaft passes loosely through the hubs of the other baiilers. I-lub 16 ofthe lowermost bafiler is supported on bottom wall 3, beingsuitablyfastened thereto. Bythis arrangement, it forms also a rigid support forthe lower end of tube 6. Each impeller comprises a hub 16 on which ismounted a spirally extending disk 17. Hub 16 is fastened to shaft 10 bya set screw or other suitablemeans.

The, upper end of shaft 10 is'connected'to the shaft of an electricmotor 18 which is vertically mounted in a casing 19 supported on tanktop 2. At 26 is a step bearing on which shaft-10 is hung; Fastened tostraps 7 is a disk 21 .1ocated in spaced relation to the upper end oftube 6 and serving as a bafiler for directing outwardly fluid flowingfrom the, top of tube 6. Fastened to shaft 10 above disk 21 is a disk 22which func-. tions as a bearing guard for step bearing 20.

Connected to tube 6, adjacent to its upper'end and above the normalmaximum liquid leveljin the tank, is a discharge pipe 23, which at itsouter end is connected to a discharge valve or faucet 24. Faucet 24 isprovided with a flange 25 which is suitably attached to the side wall 18.0

' of the tank. The faucet has a discharge port 26 and a passage 2'?which connects with a pipe 28 leading back into the tank. Attached tofaucet 24 is a suitable hand valve for closing and opening port 26. Inthe present instance, it is shown as comprising a shoe 29 carried by ayoke 30 pivoted on the casing of faucet 24. Attached to the yoke is ahandle 31 for moving the valve. 32 and 33 are stops for limiting themovement of the valve, stop 33 being made adjustable 9 so that theopening movement may be adjustably controlled. ,Shoe 29 is pressed intoengagement with the end wall of the valve casing by a spring 34 locatedin a recess inhandle 31, the spring pressing against a spacing block 35which in turn engages'the adjacent wall of shoe 29. Shoe 29 is providedwith a flange 36 which slides on the yoke to form a guide and supporting means for the shoe. Spring '34 serves to press the shoe tightlyagainst the end of valve casing and hold it in such position. In Fig. 1the valve is shown closed and in Fig. 2 it is shown open.

At the lower end of the tank is an inverted cone shaped deflecting wall37 supported by 19 ears 33 attached to side walls 1 adjacent to theirlower ends, it being provided with a central opening through which tube6 extends. Tube 6 serves to hold the edges of wall 37 in spaced relationto side walls 1 providing thereby a marginal passage 40 through whichpaint flows to bottom wall 3.

In the use of the device, paint in a mixed or partially mixed state oringredients in suitable proportions to form paint are introduced throughthe opening in top wall 2, dotted line A indicating the maximum heightto which the tank is to be filled. Motor 18 is then started, rotatingimpellers 11 in a direction to effect an upward flow of paint throughtube 6. The paint is I caused to flow rapidly up through tube 6 to itsupper end where it is discharged partly over the end of the tube beneathdisk 21 and partly through pipe 23, casing of valve 24 and pipe 28. Thepaint is circulated continuously, flowing down Wall 3'7 to wall 3 andthen down wall 3 to the lower end of tube 6. This circulation and thebeating action of the impellers effects rapid and complete mixing of theingredients. When it is desired to utilize some of the paint, it isdrawn olf by opening valve 24, the valve being opened partially orentirely as found desirable.

Qrdinarily, after the paint has been once mixed, motor 18 is shut down,it being run only when it is desired to draw some paint from. the tank.Whenever the motor is started up to draw paint, a rapid circulation andmixing of the contents of the tank is effected by the 1% i.- pellers.Only a small amount of the total paint being circulated is drawn oil?when the valve is opened. This means that when paint is being drawn fromthe tank, it is thoroughly mixed as it is drawn oil. In other words,whenever the motor is being operated and paint is being drawn off, arelatively large stream of paint is put into circulation while arelatively small portion of such stream is discharged through valve port26. This means that always a uniform mixture will be discharged throughthe valve. In. this connection, it is to be noted that the pain drawnoff is a part of the paint being circulated, this result being obtainedbecause pipe 23 is connected to tube 6 above the normal maximum paintlevel. This means that always the motor must be started up and the paintput into circulation before paint can be drawn off.

With the above described arrangement, the paint is stored in a tank fromwhich it may be drawn readily. No hand mixing of the paint is necessary,a thing which saves considerable time, and always a uniform product isdischarged through the faucet. I

The device is simple in structure, clean and efficient in operation,prevents waste of and is capable of being manufactured at low cost.

While I have shown two impellers with bafflers on each side of them, itwill be understood-that he device may be operated with a single imler orwith more than two impellers and that e bafllers may be omitted, iffound desirable.

l accordance with the provision of the patent 1 the mat rial beingdischarged over the 1' end of the tube, a branch conduit conthe tubebelow its upper end, but above id level, said branchconduit e2;- rom thetube through the wall of the discharging liquid outside of the tank,

in said branch conduit. a mixing machine, the combination of a tube inthe tank in spaced relation to the walls of the tank at each end, theupper end of the tube terminating above the normal liquid ivel in thetank, means'ior effecting ci sulaticn or materials to be mixed upwardlythrough the tube, the material being discharged over the upper end ofthe tube, a branch conduit to the tube below its upper end, but abovethe normal liquid level, said branch conduit extending from'the' tubethrough the wall of the tanlr for discharging liquid outside the tank, apipe connecting the outer end of the branch conduit to the interior ofthe tank, and a valve in said branch conduit.

3. In a mixing machine, the combination of a tank, a tube in the tank inspaced relation to the walls of the tank at each end, the upper end ofthe tube terminating abovethe normal liquid level in the tank, means forefiecting circulation of materials to be mixed upwardly through thetube,the' material being discharged over the upper end of the tube, abranch oonduit connected to the tube below its upper end, but above thenormal liquid level, said branch conduit extending from the tube throughthe wall of the tank for discharging liquid outside the tanir, a'valvein said branch conduit, and a deflecting wall surrounding the lower endof the tube. r i

FRED'F. 'SCHWENTKER.

